How to Say TO LOVE in Italian
Jim asks: ” How do we express LOVE in Italian? OR… How do I choose between AMARE and VOLERE BENE? “
For loving PEOPLE
Here's how we express love in Italian:
- AMARE is between lovers only
- VOLERE BENE is between family and friends

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▷ SOME EXAMPLES
SARA TI AMO, MI VUOI SPOSARE?
Sara, I love you! Will you marry me?
NON TI AMO PIÙ, VOGLIO IL DIVORZIO
I don't love you anymore… I want divorce!
MAMMA, TI VOGLIO BENE
Mom, I love you!
IO VOGLIO BENE A TUTTI I MIEI AMICI
I love all my friends!
MI VUOI BENE?
Do you love me?
For loving things..
- PIACERE
- ADORARE
- AMARE
MI PIACE MOLTO BALLARE
I love dance
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How about when you “love” things?
Mainly three options:
- PIACERE
- ADORARE
- AMARE
In most cases, you should be using the verb PIACERE (“to like“) (highly irregular verb – see note below for a quick explanation) followed by some sort of modifier that would amplify your “liking”. For examples:
MOLTO = a lot
MOLTISSIMO = really a lot
TANTO = a lot
TANTISSIMO = really a lot
UN CASINO = a ton (slang)
To say “I love to dance” we might say:
Mi piace molto ballare
Mi piace moltissimo ballare
Mi piace un casino ballare (slang)
I know this might not satisfy you (“I'm trying to say LOVE, not LIKE“) but that's how a native Italian would express that concept most of the time!

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Join our Italian Family and unlock all protected content on our website. It's free!
You will get immediate access to this lesson's accompanying PDF with detailed Summary Notes & practice Exercises with answers!